The nominees in each category will now be voted on by about 75 judges, a mix of New Jersey food writers, journalists, cookbook authors and industry professionals. The three finalists in each category will be announced in April, and the winners will be announced at Buy-Rite's annual Super Sampling event in Hamilton in May.

The full list of nominees in all 13 categories can be found at the Garden State Culinary Arts Awards Facebook page. Buy-Rite Liquors has no input in the process, and its stores, employees or affiliates are not eligible for awards.

The food awards, presented by Buy-Rite Liquors, are the vision of former Asbury Park Press restaurant reviewer Andrea Clurfeld. The seven-member awards committee includes chairman Peter Genovese, food/features writer, NJ Advance Media and nj.com; Elisa Ung, writer/editor and former restaurant reviewer for The Record and northjersey.com; Anthony Ewing, founder of ethnicnj.com; John Howard-Fusco, food writer and founder of Eating in South Jersey; Marie Jackson, a James-Beard recognized pastry chef; Shannon Mullen, staff writer for The Asbury Park Press; Tammy Paolino, features strategist, The Courier-Post and Daily Journal; and Jamila Robinson, regional features content strategist for Gannett New Jersey. The awards administrator is Andrea Clurfeld.